In 1435 a man came to the villages of the Free Cities in the far south. Strong, smart, and charismatic he worked at odd jobs and everywhere he went he made tiny suggestions about things might work better. When asked how he knew so much he said that he'd traveled a great deal. Before too long he'd gathered some companions who he taught to read and write using a volume called The Book of Travels. The Book of Travels turned out be a religious work about the life of a god named Feroze. The stranger said that he wasn't a member of that religion, but he respected it and could teach more, including its magical arts, though he couldn't use those abilities himself. As the summer faded into winter the stranger became almost strictly a teacher in the town of Lowfells. As he often spoke, "On the question," people began speaking of "Exquaestio" as both his school and the religion taught in The Book of Travels. The stranger could teach almost anything, but there were a number of things (like spinning) that he had no talent for doing. The village was greatful for what he could do that winter when the village, thanks to his skill and what he had taught a few of the people, survived a bandit attack without deaths.
In the spring of 1436 the stranger traveled on once more, but he left behind the copy of the The Book of Travels that he'd used to teach reading, writing, and the magical arts. Not long after he left his most advanced students read the final chapter of the book, which told how the god Feroze adopted a fully human form to live among the villagers of Lowfells for a year.
The years from 1437 to 1447 were marked by strong growth both in population and geography. Exquaestio also made itself known to other religions in the area. This period ended with the first Grand Conclave in 1447.
Slower, though continuing growth marked the period from 1448 to 1452. Exquaestio decided on its organization and began to work more with politics and economics.